BAGUIO CITY – All teaching and non-teaching personnel of private and public schools in the city will now be required to undergo disaster risk reduction trainings to empower them to handle and respond to emergency situations especially since they are catering to students.

The city council approved Ordinance No. 62 series of 2017 authored by Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. for this purpose.

“Trainings and seminars should be conducted to the faculty members of private and public schools since majority of the children and youth are inside campuses during daytime, should any disaster or emergency occur,” the measure notes.

“Parents will feel a lot safer knowing that when it comes to emergency situations, the faculty members are properly trained to provide immediate patient care. Alongside the Barangay Emergency Response Team, the City Government can now count on the school faculty members to support the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), making it more efficient and responsive to the needs that may arise.”

As decreed, the city will give all schools six months to comply with the ordinance.

The CDRRMC is tasked to conduct trainings and seminars and monitor the implementation of the ordinance.

Yangot said this is in line with the policy of the city government to protect and promote the health and safety of all its residents and with the thrust of Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 which recognizes the necessity of being prepared for the eventuality of any disaster, natural or man-made, in order to prevent or lessen its after-effects.